47 reasons to celebrate a 47th birthday

Birthdays, to me, are a time to take stock, especially when you get to my age and you realize that unless you're George Burns, you're more than halfway through your life and career.

It's a time to look back at where you've been, where you're at and where you hope to be going.

As part of the evaluation process, I decided to sit and down and think of 47 reasons why I can enjoy life here on Groller's Corner, with some items related to my job as a sportswriter, and some not.

Oh, I could also probably think of 47 reasons why life isn't always so enjoyable and name names, too, but birthdays are supposed to be happy times, so we'll stay positive. So, in no particular order, here we go:

47. Looking forward to state playoff games in basketball like tonight's Liberty-Pennsbury game.

46. The chance to do a radio show every Sunday morning with a good guy like Roger Pence, even if his musical tastes don't match mine, which admittedly, are stuck in another, softer era

45. Getting to hear from good sports fans and enthusiastic people like Karen Smitreski and Rick Mondschein here on Groller's Corner. And occasionally, I even hear from Andy "Mr. Nazareth" Weaver from his new Western PA home.

44. Getting to hear Punkin Miller say "Please stand and pay tribute to the greatest flag in the world."

43. Two cheese steaks (no hot peppers) and three perogies from the Brass Rail.

42. Seeing a small, tight-knit community create a big-time atmosphere as Northern Lehigh did on Saturday at Parkland.

41. Getting to know a terrific person like Joyce Reed-Ebling, who never changed even as her son, Andre, went from Dieruff to Kutztown to Buffalo to (hopefully) Canton.

40. A summer night watching cows graze in the background and a ballgame going on in the foreground at Limeport Stadium.

36. Listening to Punkin Miller tell Terry Stoudt stories when the phrase "Dumb Dutchman" always seems to make an appearance in the conversation.

35. Thinking about the kindness that the legendary Milo Sewards always showed me.

34. Four cheese dogs with sauce and onions at Yocco's.

33. Thinking of my late grandmother, a Northampton graduate, every time I cover Catasauqua-Northampton football on Thanksgiving morning and knowing that were she still here, her first question every Turkey Day would always be: Who won the Catty-Northampton game?

32. Thinking of my late great-uncle, Edward Apple (that's where I get my middle name Edward from) every time I drive on Race Street in Catasauqua because that's where he had a grocery store with one of those old-fashioned soda fountains when I was a kid.

31. Getting to do the softball trivia questions over the PA system at Pates Park in the spring, always offering "A hot dog, Coke, and bag of chips" to the winner.

30 Remembering the quirks of legends like Billy Bickel, George Miller and Doc Harlacher and knowing how much they always wanted to be involved when it came to high school sports.

29. Rembering the summer nights when my grandfather, the late Frank Groller, would take me to Coplay legion baseball games when Sammy Balliet was managing because my pappy insisted "Sammy teaches the game the way it's supposed to be played."

28. Two dozen steamed clams and a beer at Stahley's.

27. Hearing the voice of Bill McCoach at a Lehigh event or Jim Finnen at Lafayette.

26. Listening to the oldtimers at Pates Park grump about the umpires and everything else from their regular spot in the bleachers.

25. Remembering sitting in the southwest corner of Allen's Little Palestra with my parents at my side, and a scorebook on my lap, for so many games as a kid.

24. The memory of standing in a long, crowded line before the doors opened to get into a packed Muhlenberg Memorial Hall for so many big basketball games, especially for Allen and Dieruff, as a kid.

23. The sheer electricity before the opening kickoff of any Lehigh-Lafayette football game.

22. Remembering Nicole Sheriff, Michael Cummings, Art Perryman, Bo Tkach, Jen Jacksits, Jeff Dailey and all of the other young people we lost much too soon, but also knowing they made their mark on this earth while they were here.

21. Watching Don Hunsicker work the Pates Park infield with a rake and broom, like a mother taking care of her baby.

20. The joy of hearing the voice of Mike Grasso, Becahi's baseball coach, as he leaves a complimentary message on my answering machine.

19. Hearing the rumble of kids stomping their feet in the balcony at Rockne Hall.

18. A packed house for a big football game at Easton's Cottingham Stadium and talking softball with Ed McIntyre as he runs the clock.

16. Remembering how the stories and columns by Paul Reinhard, John Kunda, Jack Lapos, Coult Aubrey, Terry Larimer and others spurred my interest in this profession and never forgetting that it was Reinhard who went out of his way to give me a job when I most needed it.

15. Remembering late nights around the office when the late Rich Petro would pull up a chair and tell me Larry Miller stories..

14. The Liberty High Grenadier Band, which never fails to give me goose bumps when they do that bagpipe thing.

13. The four days every July I spend under a tent at Cedar Beach with the Stellar Construction staff, headed by Tony Stellar, Glen and Kim Klein and John Hrebik.

12. Hearing Hugh Gallagher and Dennis Eddinger tell me the prospects of the upcoming CCHS football and basketball seasons and Hughie always telling me who should be at CCHS, but who got away.

11. Seeing Jim Lindenmoyer at any Northampton event.

10. Seeing Jim Tkach smile.

9. Remembering a great kid like Whitehall softball star Lorie Erie and seeing how she's blossomed into a terrific woman and mother.

8. Remembering Kyle Miller and his smile as Allen's softball team won the 1990 state title.

7. Remembering the passion that Parkland's Jen Potzman brought to the softball diamond every time she played a game.

6. Remembering how nice gentle giant Nate Hobgood-Chittick was to me and my family on a visit to St. Louis in 2000.

5. Getting to chat, if just for a minute, with one of my broadcasting heroes, Jack Buck, outside the press box at Busch Stadium on that same 2000 trip.

4. Getting to interview kids who just won a state title, whether it was Allen girls basketball in 1981, Emmaus softball in 2001, Parkland football in 2002, or Central's boys basketball teams in 1984 and '86.

2. Being proud of two kids who have grown up well, thanks to their mother, and who are now serving the community -- 25-year-old Chris is an Allentown fireman, soon to be 23-year-old daughter Emily is a nurse at St. Luke's.

1. Trying to enjoy everything that my 6-year-old Aimee does, even as she messes up the house, and praying that I'm able to stay around for her and can be with her mother and my wife, for 47 more years.

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Current Comments

I was reading your article this morning and it brought back some wonderful memories. I was raised in Catasauqua. Recently I returned and in fact live in the house were I grew up. The house is in East Catty and one of my fondest memories is of going to Apple's store on Race Street. Your great uncle was a great man and everyday when I go up Race Street and pass were he had the store I think of the go times. I think of the pinball machine that my brother and is friends played, the great Ice cream cones, ice cream sandwichs, and ice cream floats. My mother used to send me for coke syrup and use it when my siblings and I were sick. I wonder what your great uncle would think of the condition of the property today. He always had the property in great condition.

Posted By: Linda | Mar 5, 2008 7:42:34 AM

Happy Birthday Keith

We enjoy your company as well.
Moran and Fisher are very entertaining when they
start picking on each other.
Looking forward to the 2008 BML season.

Posted By: Eric | Mar 5, 2008 8:09:00 AM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEITH!

My Best Buddy and my pleasure to be the President Of the Keith Groller Fan Club!

47 Years Old! Time is definitely going fast!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing how fast Time Goes!

Keith put in long hours at the Football Fields, Basketball Court etc. He does it for the Kids, not the money!

I can’t think of a better guy than Keith to Dedicate this E-Mail to today. Keith is Truly the Best and will have always a special place in my heart!

Happy Birthday to you, cha cha cha!!!
If you add the two digits of your age together, you get 11...as in District XI. 47 is a Prime number as is 11. You are Prime Time, Keith!

I enjoyed reading "47 Reasons to Celebrate A 47th Birthday". As Scott Coval is being interviewed at half time of the Liberty game [by Al Di Carlo on 2 Sports] you are being seen walking court side. Talk about your 15 minutes of fame...I give you permission to use that next year as your 48th reason. Ha Ha

Happy Birthday once again! Take time to enjoy your wife and children. I am sure they are as proud of you as the Lehigh valley is. Keep up the good work!!!

Posted By: Karen Smitreski | Mar 5, 2008 8:39:57 PM

Happy Birthday. As always, thanks for the plug. Hope you have an enjoyable birthday and many more.

You do a great job for the local community. It has been fun working with you and many other local media over the past many years.

Happy birthday again.

Posted By: Tom Moll | Mar 5, 2008 8:56:57 PM

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